Walmart holds annual trick-or-treat for the kids

By BY DIANNA WRAY
Oct. 30, 2010 at 5:30 a.m.

TJ Crawford Jr., dressed as a ninja, talks about trick-or-treating. Crawford, 8, participated in the Halloween Trick or Treat at Walmart, where parents and children participated in a cakewalk and trick or treating.

Walmart was flooded by witches, goblins and ninjas on Saturday evening as kids trooped through the store, bags in hand, to collect their candy.

"It's awesome. I like the candy," TJ Crawford Jr. said from behind the red face mask of his ninja costume.

The annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat brought excited kids into the store on Saturday evening.

"It's just something we do. It gives the kids a safe place to trick or treat," Walmart department manager Karen Wood said.

This year, trick-or-treaters participated in a cupcake walk - it's like a cakewalk, but with cupcakes - and had the chance to roam the store, getting candy from employees in each of the departments.

Parent Deeanna Garcia said she has been bringing her children to the Walmart Trick-or-Treat for the past four years.

"Everything is in one area and the kids always have a lot of fun," Garcia said.

Wood said the employees enjoy it, too.

"It's a way to give a little back to the community and everyone gets excited about handing out candy to the kids in their costumes," Wood said.

This year, Wood said, they expected about 200 children to participate in the event.

Walmart employees decked out in Halloween-orange also sold hotdogs, pickles and drinks at a concession stand during the event. The proceeds from the concessions were donated to the Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, Wood said.

Michelle Solorzano said she brought her stepdaughter to the event because it seemed like a good way to trick-or-treat.

"We know all of the people in here, and the people are really nice. She had a lot of fun," Solorzano said.

Her stepdaughter, Hannah Martinez, 7, agreed as she fluffed the skirt of her witch costume.